India’s carrom-baller, spin wizard Ashwin bids adieu to international cricket
India's decorated off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his decision to retire from international cricket moments after the Brisbane Test ended in a draw.
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah was included in the team ahead over seamer Ishant Sharma in the opening Test of three-match series against South Africa. Fans and experts were critical of the decision, as Sharma’s height could have benefited the Indian side on the bouncy pitch of Newlands, Cape Town.
However, former Indian speedster Raju Kulkarni, who played three Tests and 10 ODIs, believes that Ishant Sharma is too erratic.
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“He (Ishant Sharma) has played 78 (79) Test matches, to play 78 (79) Test matches for India is amazing. But I don’t think he has ever led from the front and that has been a problem with him,” Kulkarni said.
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“He is too erratic, every-time he comes with new techniques, strategies, and that itself is very confusing for him,” he added.
Sharma had played his debut Test against Bangladesh in 2007. He has taken 226 wickets in 79 Tests matches and 115 wickets in 80 One Day International matches.
“In the last two series, he (Sharma) was acting very stupidly, reacting to the situations badly, and I think every time he comes out with something different and that is not making him very consistent,” Raju Kulkarni said.
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